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Argumentative Essay Writing

A Step-by-Step Guide

Name: ___________________________

Hour: _____ Table #: _____

This argumentative essay was written by a student.

Should Metal Bats be Banned in Youth Baseball?

On March 11, 2010, a high school pitcher in California was facing a player using a metal bat, when he

was hit in the temple by a line drive traveling 100 mph. His skull was crushed, and he spent weeks in a

coma. Fortunately, after surgery and months of rehabilitation, he survived. The accident brought to the

forefront an issue that has been a safety concern ever since the 1970s when metal bats began being used

instead of wooden bats. Metal bats are dangerous and should be banned by youth sport leagues for

several reasons.

Baseballs hit with metal bats travel at a higher rate of speed than those hit with wooden bats.

Researcher J.J. Crisco studied aluminum bats and found that they produced a “trampoline” effect, which

means the baseball springs off of the bat at a high rate of speed. This happens so fast that pitchers and

infielders don’t have time to react, which places them in danger. The New York Times reported that

baseballs hit with metal bats travel almost 20 mph faster than baseballs hit with wooden bats. This is a

huge difference to a player trying to make a play on a line drive in time. Consequently, the high rate of

speed makes using a metal bat dangerous.

In addition, there have been many instances of players getting hurt by baseballs hit with metal bats.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, between 1991 and 2001, 18 players were killed

by batted balls, and only two involved wooden bats. This proves that wood bats are safer than metal.

Also, The New York Times reports that several lawsuits have been won by parents who sued metal bat

makers after their child had been hurt. After being presented with evidence about the dangers of

aluminum bats, judges and juries agreed they are responsible for injuries. Therefore, the high rate of

injuries proves that metal bats are unsafe.

Some people claim that wooden bats are too expensive to supply to youth leagues because they are

not as long lasting. This is true. Even so, a higher cost should not matter when safety is concerned.

Metal bats endanger the lives of young baseball players. First, they make the baseball travel at a high

rate of speed, making it difficult to catch. Secondly, they have resulted in many injuries. Banning metal

bats is necessary in order to save the lives of young players.

Page 2

For an argument essay to be effective, you must organize your ideas, provide

solid supporting evidence, and present the information clearly.

Body Paragraph

This paragraph introduces the first reason that your claim is valid.

Support it with evidence, such as facts, examples, and data.

Body Paragraph

This paragraph introduces the second reason that your claim is

valid. Support it with evidence, such as facts, examples, and data.

Body Paragraph

This paragraph introduces the third reason that your claim is valid.

Support it with evidence, such as fact, examples, and data

Conclusion

The last paragraph restates the thesis statement and summarizes the

main idea of the argument. It also contains a strong concluding statement.

Introduction

The first paragraph is where you will hook the reader and state your claim.

The hook is sometimes called a l ead. The claim is the thesis statement.

Body Paragraph

The paragraph should introduce an opposing claim, which is the

counterargument. It also includes the turn-back, which takes the

reader back to your claim and position.

Page 3

Body paragraphs #1 -3: Support the thesis statement/claim.

Start with a topic sentence that introduces a reason people should be

convinced by the argument.

Ex. In order for students to improve academically, and

avoid “summer slide,” American students should attend

school year round.

Then include specific evidence to support the thesis statement (the

claim). Use facts, examples, and statistics to back up the claim. Include

at least 2-3 pieces of evidence.

Ex. For example, Balsz, a district in Arizona, saw reading

test scores go up from 51 percent to 65 percent after

extending the school year by 20 days.

Follow each piece of evidence with a bridge to explain how the evidence

supports the claim. The bridge connects the evidence with the

argument’s claim.

Ex. This significant improvement in reading scores proves

that students benefit by having more time in school.

Close with a concluding sentence.

Ex. It is possible to improve student test scores by

requiring more days in school.

Text-reference and transition words and

phrases to use in the body paragraphs:

First, Also, Finally,

For example, Above all, Particularly,

Furthermore, Additionally, Specifically,

Therefore, Consequently,

According to

For instance,

Due to

Page 5

Body paragraph #4: Writing the opposing argument.

1) The opposing argument, called the counterclaim or counterargument, proves that

you fully understand the topic and that you have considered the opposition.

2) The turn-back is a return to the original argument. It gives you an opportunity to prove

why the opposing argument is invalid. Be sure to refute the opposing claim.

It might seem that It’s true that Admittedly,

Of course, One might object While

Certainly At first glance, Some people claim

Transition words and phrases to use in the counterargument:

Ex. Some critics of year round school say that the real results of studies

that seem to show score increases in year round schools are inconclusive ,

and it is difficult to pinpoint the real reason for the increases. However,

there is no doubt that students in Europe, where there is year round

school, outperform American students on achievement tests.

Be sure to use the counterclaim transition words and phrases in pairs.

Use one to introduce the counterclaim and another to introduce the turn-back.

It might seem that________________ … except_______________

It is true that__________________...nevertheless______________

Some people claim___________________...however_____________

counterargument turn-back

counterargument turn-back

counterargument turn-back

Try pairing counterclaim transitions with this imaginary argument:*

_____________________ there is no photographic evidence that Bigfoot exists;

_____________________ people who have seen him up close say their eyewitness accounts

should be proof enough. *What was the original

claim?

Transition words and phrases to use in the turn-back:

Yet, Despite However, Nevertheless,

Still Except Conversely, Even so,

Writing the Counterclaim/Counterargument Body

Paragraph

Page 6

▪ Hook/Lead ▪ Thesis Statement/Claim ▪ 4 Examples of Evidence

▪ 2 Reasons ▪ Background information

▪ 4 Bridges ▪ Counterargument ▪ Turn-Back • Restating Claim

Should Metal Bats be Banned in Youth Baseball?

On March 11, 2010, a high school pitcher in California was facing a player using a metal bat,

when he was hit in the temple by a line drive traveling 100 mph. His skull was crushed, and he

spent weeks in a coma. Fortunately, after surgery and months of rehabilitation, he survived.

The accident brought to the forefront an issue that has been a safety concern ever since the

1970s when metal bats began being used instead of wooden bats. Metal bats are dangerous

and should be banned by youth sport leagues for several reasons.

Baseballs hit with metal bats travel at a higher rate of speed than those hit with wooden

bats. Researcher J.J. Crisco studied aluminum bats and found that they produced a “trampoline”

effect, which means the baseball springs off of the bat at a high rate of speed. This happens so

fast that pitchers and infielders don’t have time to react, which places them in danger. The New

York Times reported that baseballs hit with metal bats travel almost 20 mph faster than

baseballs hit with wooden bats. This is a huge difference to a player trying to make a play on a

line drive in time. Consequently, the high rate of speed makes using a metal bat dangerous.

In addition, there have been many instances of players getting hurt by baseballs hit with

metal bats. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, between 1991 and 2001, 18

players were killed by batted balls, and only two involved wooden bats. This proves that wood

bats are safer than metal. Also, The New York Times reports that several lawsuits have been

won by parents who sued metal bat makers after their child had been hurt. After being

presented with evidence about the dangers of aluminum bats, judges and juries agreed they are

responsible for injuries. Therefore, the high rate of injuries proves that metal bats are unsafe.

Some people claim that wooden bats are too expensive to supply to youth leagues because

they are not as long lasting. This is true. Even so, a higher cost should not matter when safety is

concerned.

Metal bats endanger the lives of young baseball players. First, they make the baseball travel

at a high rate of speed, making it difficult to catch. Secondly, they have resulted in many

injuries. Banning metal bats is necessary in order to save the lives of young players, and

everyone concerned should contact their local lawmakers.

Page 8

Publisher Episode #

Episode Name

Time (^) ViewedDate URL

Notes:______________________________________________________________________

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Publisher Episode #

Episode Name

Time Date Viewed URL

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

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______________________________________________________________________

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______________________________________________________________

Notes:

Podcast

Podcast

Introduction

Hook:______________________________________________________________

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Background Information:_______________________________________________

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Claim: _____________________________________________________________

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Body Paragraph 1

Topic Sentence- Reason:

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Evidence:___________________________________________________________

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Bridge: ____________________________________________________________

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Evidence:___________________________________________________________

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Bridge: ____________________________________________________________

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Conclusion: _________________________________________________________

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Body Paragraph 2

Topic Sentence- Reason:

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Evidence:___________________________________________________________

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Bridge: ____________________________________________________________

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Evidence:___________________________________________________________

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Bridge:

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Conclusion: _________________________________________________________

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Body Paragraph #

Counterargument:____________________________________________________

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Turn-Back:__________________________________________________________

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Conclusion

Restate Claim/ Thesis Statement:________________________________________

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Summarize the Evidence:______________________________________________

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Final Statement:_____________________________________________________

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Criteria Absolutely Mostly Partially Not Really

Introduction ➢ Have you provided an interesting hook?

➢ Have you given background information?

➢ Have you stated a claim in the thesis statement?

Body Paragraphs ➢ Have you used statistics or facts to provide evidence?

➢ Have you analyzed and explained your evidence by using bridges?

➢ Have you included a counterargument and a turn-back?

Conclusion ➢ Have you restated the claim, summarized, and ended strongly

Organization & Style ➢ H ave you organized the response and used transitions?

➢ Have you written for your audience?

➢ Have you included a Works Cited page and used correct citations.

Mechanics:

➢ Have you reviewed for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization errors?